Best mid-range $150 or less HVLP spray gun?

[wmblalock]

Hey guys, I am needing a little help here. I am trying to figure out what the best $150 or less HVLP spray gun would be for the money. I asked on another forum, but got shot down saying that only a Iwata or SATA gun would be worth money otherwise I should just buy a $20 cheapo gun. I figure the mid-range guns, must be at least decent! Here is a list I made of ones I found so far, what do you guys think the best is? Anyone use any of these?

- Sharpe Finex FX3000 $105
http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Sharpe/Sharpe Finex 3000.html
- Astro QUL $89
http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Astro/Astro Pneumatic - QUL103A.htm
- DeVILBISS Finishline 3 $104
http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/DeVilbiss/DeVilbiss Finishline 3 - Student Set.html
- Binks Spray Vantage 1000G $129
http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Binks/SV100G.html
- Matco new HVLP guns (only 1 model with different tips?) $149
http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2429&select=&page=1

Any help would be great! I would like to paint my show truck if i ever get good enough, but for now I am going to get good practicing on spare panels and on my daily driver blazer after that.
- Mike

 

[Uncle Buck]

I think most pro's rave over the SATA in recent years, but since I have never painted professionally I only have my home experiences to draw upon. With that being the case I would still go for a DeVilbiss, Sharpe or Binks first simply because of my past good experiences with those brands and no personal knowledge or experience with Sata guns. (I do understand their guns are great though)

 

[wmblalock]

Thats what I have come to find too, but Sata and Iwata are just too expensive for my budget and I am having a hard time chossing between the mid-range guns of the other major brands in my list..

 

[Uncle Buck]

Thats what I have come to find too, but Sata and Iwata are just too expensive for my budget and I am having a hard time chossing between the mid-range guns of the other major brands in my list..

Then if they are to expensive for you shift gears and look at the Binks, Devilbiss or Sharpe brands, I do not think any one of them would be a junk product. These brands were the industry standards for decades and I really do not think you could go wrong with any one of them.

 

[wmblalock]

Then if they are to expensive for you shift gears and look at the Binks, Devilbiss or Sharpe brands, I do not think any one of them would be a junk product. These brands were the industry standards for decades and I really do not think you could go wrong with any one of them.

Of course, that's why I put them on my list. Has anyone had experience with any of these guns? Good? Bad?

**Edit: For example, even though DeVILBISS is a great brand, I have read that their lower line (startingline) is pretty much **** and has a lot of plastic parts.. I want something better than that for sure!

 

[Stanger]

My vote is for the Devilbiss FL3. Very nice gun for the money IMO. You can also get quite a few tips with the gun for under $150.

EDIT: Forgot to add that yes, I have sprayed with the FL3 and I liked it very much for the money.

 

[alohavw]

This is what I have:

http://www.spraygunworld.com/Information2/Sales/Astro Pneumatic - EVO4014 Package.htm

I've heard good things about the Astro EVO so I purchased both the 1.8 tip for 2K high build primer and the 1.4 for my single stage and will be using them in the next week or so. I'll pm you to keep you informed on how they work.

 

[jimvannoy]

If you can't afford a Sata I'd go with the Binks.

 

[engnerdan]

I own one of the finex guns, it works well but I have no idea how it compares to a good gun. the only problem with mine is it looks like the tip is not centered in the air cap, but this could be from the previous owner dropping it as I got ti used.

-Dan

 

[wmblalock]

This is what I have:

http://www.spraygunworld.com/Information2/Sales/Astro Pneumatic - EVO4014 Package.htm

I've heard good things about the Astro EVO so I purchased both the 1.8 tip for 2K high build primer and the 1.4 for my single stage and will be using them in the next week or so. I'll pm you to keep you informed on how they work.

Yeah let me know, those are lvlp guns, i think those are harder to cover a vehicle with because they disperse less paint if i remember correctly. Thats why i was looking at hvlp. I am not exactly sure on the advantages / disadvantages of them. I think lvlp gets more of a percentage of paint on the truck and uses less air, but at the same time it shoots less at once, therefore making it take quite a bit longer to cover a vehicle. I am not sure what that means for the final finish quality either if its good or bad.

 

[billymade]

Its been years since I sprayed anything and my old gun is a Devilbiss that isn't even HVLP but this is a place that is huge in the body shop industry as a supplier. You might give them a call and see what they have to say; they probably have some people that really know what they are talking about. You might ask for the "paint gun expert" and see what they recommend. They sell all the popular brands, I say give them a call! http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/c-559-paint-guns.aspx

 

[alohavw]

QUOTE=wmblalock;216102]Yeah let me know, those are lvlp guns, i think those are harder to cover a vehicle with because they disperse less paint if i remember correctly. Thats why i was looking at hvlp. I am not exactly sure on the advantages / disadvantages of them. I think lvlp gets more of a percentage of paint on the truck and uses less air, but at the same time it shoots less at once, therefore making it take quite a bit longer to cover a vehicle. I am not sure what that means for the final finish quality either if its good or bad. [/QUOTE]


Will do. A guy that I work with sprays cars p/t for a living to put his kids through college and loves the LVLP guns.

If money was not an object then I'd look into an Iwata.

 

[Stanger]

Smart Shoppers has some of the best deals on spray guns FYI.

 

[dxdexter]

What about a Snap-on Saber II. I just bought one on eBay for $70. They sell for $429 here in Canada. I also saw a NIB one go for $86.

I haven't received it yet I was hoping to spray post-catalyzed furniture lacquer. I just sold my Kremlin HVLP system and wanted a lower priced replacement for intermittent use.

Link:http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=69050&group_ID=3003&store=canada&dir=catalog

 

[ProfessorSpray]

If you can spend a little more around $200.00 the best low cost gun the the CPR from CAT. The tips needles and air cap are made in the USA and are the same as on their $500 all stainless steel spray gun.

http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/CAT/CAT Techline Start.html

It requires a large compressor however.

if you have a 110v compressor 5cfm or 6cfm then this is the best gun.

http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Asturo/WB Kit/IndexWBII.html

Both are worth the little extra money.

Thanks
ProfessorSpray

 

[ProfessorSpray]

The nice thing about the EVO is that it is a copy of the Iwata LPH 400LV and you can stick a true Iwata parts in it and have an inexpensive $500 Iwata.

 

[selohssa]

I asked on another forum, but got shot down saying that only a Iwata or SATA gun would be worth money otherwise I should just buy a $20 cheapo gun.

- DeVILBISS Finishline 3 $104
http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/DeVilbiss/DeVilbiss Finishline 3 - Student Set.html

I would like to paint my show truck if i ever get good enough, but for now I am going to get good practicing on spare panels and on my daily driver blazer after that.
- Mike

If I had to choose from your list, I would go for the DeVilbiss. I would then paint a few odd jobs for people to raise the funds for a Sata or Iwata. If you have not painted much, you don't want to start out with junk. It is kind of like learning how to ski on $10 plastic skis. You will get frustrated and want to give up. Have you phoned the Sata or Iwata rep and asked about buying a demo gun when they are done with it. Around here you can save 20-60% depending on the gun.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I have four Iwatas, and I am spraying my Ranger today. While they are not $150.... you do get what you pay for and few guns can lay down clear like an Iwata.

Adam

 

[compman25]

I bet he's finished painting it by now.

 

[JayL]

I own one of the finex guns, it works well but I have no idea how it compares to a good gun. the only problem with mine is it looks like the tip is not centered in the air cap, but this could be from the previous owner dropping it as I got ti used.

-Dan

I have the Finex FX3000 gun ( 1.4mm tip ) and don't have this problem. I'm happy with mine but I don't spray paint professionally.

Made in China if that matters to you.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

WOW that thing looks a lot like my LPH 400s....

Hummm....

Adam

 

[bitbycarbug]

Honestly, painting with spray guns is like road racing. The driver matters more than the car he is driving. The more experience and the guy with a HF gun could probably produce a very nice finish.

I have sprayed the Devilbliss Finishline 2, some Sharpe I can't remember, and a very expensive Iwata during school and some side work.

The finishline 2 and Sharpe were very good guns and left a very nice finish using 2 stage metallic finishes. It left me nice room to move the spray pattern around and get a comfortable pace and distance.

The Iwata was nice but was uncomfortable for me as I had to be as close as 3-6 inches to achieve good coverage of clear and had to move fast to not run it. It did have a spray pattern length of about 9-11 inches which is nice if your paid by billable hour and you need cars done as fast as you can.

Matco- No experience.

Astro- Suppoesed to be a nice knock off of the Sata's. Can be had from spraygunworld with their 2 gun deal for around $125 when its on sale.

FYI: HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) is the mandate in most areas for its better transfer rate (better than 65%, meaning more of the paint actually is on the car, rather than the air) and LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure) is the next generation of guns that are supposed to have better transfer rates and need less cfm's .

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I agree. I have four Iwatas myself, BUT until I had shot my second or third car I really didn't know what I was doing. Had a lot of wet sand and spray over experiences.... )

Adam

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Yeah let me know, those are lvlp guns, i think those are harder to cover a vehicle with because they disperse less paint if i remember correctly. Thats why i was looking at hvlp. I am not exactly sure on the advantages / disadvantages of them. I think lvlp gets more of a percentage of paint on the truck and uses less air, but at the same time it shoots less at once, therefore making it take quite a bit longer to cover a vehicle. I am not sure what that means for the final finish quality either if its good or bad.

You're pretty much spot on about the particulars.

As for the final result, it depends on your style. If you're used to a HVLP or even higher production rate, your rhythm will be off. Head to head with painters who like and are used to their respective classes of guns, they will have an equally good finish.

What you're looking for is a EUROHV103. I think you're find it to be perfect.

____________
Chris
Product Manager

 

[1930]

If you can spend a little more around $200.00 the best low cost gun the the CPR from CAT. The tips needles and air cap are made in the USA and are the same as on their $500 all stainless steel spray gun.

http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/CAT/CAT Techline Start.html

It requires a large compressor however.

if you have a 110v compressor 5cfm or 6cfm then this is the best gun.

http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Asturo/WB Kit/IndexWBII.html

Both are worth the little extra money.

Thanks
ProfessorSpray

What this guy said.......6 years ago

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

What this guy said.......6 years ago

Wow, total necro bump.

Good catch.